colors: USCGA and USAFA

CGA17

10-Year Member
Joined
May 26, 2010
Messages
171
Hello. I am being disenrolled medically for the USCGA for color deficiency. I'm looking into AFROTC and USAFA next year. Obviously I cannot fly, but could I still get into USAFA in a comissioning non-pilot spot? Tough times over here. Some advice would be great! Thanks
 
I am not trying to give you hope, but as far as rated world goes, AF and Army qual candidates that the Navy and CG DQ regarding color deficiency.

I am not saying they will or won't, I am saying DoDMERB DQ's, branches determine if the DQ will be waived.
 
Hello. I am being disenrolled medically for the USCGA for color deficiency. I'm looking into AFROTC and USAFA next year. Obviously I cannot fly, but could I still get into USAFA in a comissioning non-pilot spot? Tough times over here. Some advice would be great! Thanks
Sorry to hear this. Really wish the DoDMERB exam would catch these color deficiency issues. Seems like there are a few kids that get put through what you are going through every year.
I do know that Army and AF are less strict with regards to color vision than CG and Navy.
Good luck and sorry.
 
So from my understanding dodmerb dq's and the branches qualify. Roughly, what is the likelihood of getting qualified through air force for a non pilot simple comission slot with my condition?
 
This provides relief. Someone here in CT Said its not DQ for usafa or USMA but theyre Not 100%. However, do the recent class size reductions and budget cuts affect the amount of waivers?? Can I still do AFROTC in the fall at my state school?
 
I would think there would be no reason you could not do AFROTC this fall. You will have to clear the DODMERB hurdle before you contract or go to SFT.
Can't answer the waiver question but I am under the impression there are fewer waivers available now.

You apparently passed DoDMERB once so must have passed one of the tests (the PiP?) so you may be ok with AF.
 
+1 to Packer's post.

AF currently has more than enough applicants and not enough money. They may waive you, but that does not and will not translate into a scholarship or an apptmt.
TrumpetTennis said:
Roughly, what is the likelihood of getting qualified through air force for a non pilot simple comission slot with my condition?
I think you need to understand the way the selection process works and how DoDMERB impacts the AF. The minute they waive you, is the minute they pick up the financial burden from a health care issue; real world health insurance is you have a pre-existing condition. Granted you have a color deficiency, but to them it may create a problem from a manpower needs perspective. They can take a rated officer and put them in Maintenance, MSSQ, Intel, etc., but they can't take a non-rated officer and place them into a jet. They have a limited budget, which would you select, the candidate that is eligible to fly, or the candidate that needs a waiver? Remember this is the AIR Force. AIR being the key word.

I know that is disheartening to read, and I don't want you to give up. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't need a waiver. I am only saying if you can get the waiver, but will never fly due to vision, it can hurt you.

Next, if I have read your post correctly, you already have a DODMERB exam on file. These exams are only valid for 2 yrs. IF you get a scholarship that needs to be converted to a Type 2 3 yr. the exam may no longer be valid for contracting purposes, and now you have to go through the process again. If you don't receive a scholarship, the exam will be invalid when you go up for contracting. If I am correct the only AFROTC scholarship available to you now is ISSP 3 yr or a det scholarship.

I think you should go forward, don't let my stupid opinion dishearten you!

OBTW, as a Mom of an AFROTC cadet that graduated this past May. This DoDMERB exam will not be the last. You will do it again prior to commissioning.
 
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Pima, Trumpet Tennis earned an appointment to the USCGA so obviously passed the DoDMERB. When they report to the USCGA they do another physical that includs vision testing. I believe the color vision test is the Falant but most DoDMERB doctors do the PiP test so this issue seems to come up every year at the sea going academies.
 
Packer, I agree it is already on file, what I was stating is if he goes AFROTC, he will not contract until the very least Sept 2013. If his 1st exam was last Aug (2011) it would not be valid because it would be over 2 yrs old.

Do the math. He goes AF/AROTC this fall, not contracted. Applies for an ISSP, is awarded. School starts 9/5, contracting is 9/12... 2013. If he took the exam 9/12/11 it is now invalid! He can't even contract, instead he will need to start the entire DoDMERB process over again. If he goes AFA the exam would be valid using my dates.

This is important to AFROTC cadets that converted a Type 7 4 yr to a Type 2 3 yr. If that exam was done during the summer of your rising sr yr in HS, even with a scholarship in hand, you cannot, will not contract because the exam is no longer valid. They will send you to docs.
 
Packer, I agree it is already on file, what I was stating is if he goes AFROTC, he will not contract until the very least Sept 2013. If his 1st exam was last Aug (2011) it would not be valid because it would be over 2 yrs old.

Do the math. He goes AF/AROTC this fall, not contracted. Applies for an ISSP, is awarded. School starts 9/5, contracting is 9/12... 2013. If he took the exam 9/12/11 it is now invalid! He can't even contract, instead he will need to start the entire DoDMERB process over again. If he goes AFA the exam would be valid using my dates.
Gotcha!
 
Hello. I am being disenrolled medically for the USCGA for color deficiency.

Sorry to hear that. You've been on this site since you were a sophomore, and I know you were very enthusiastic about joining the USCG and the USCGA.

Did you take (and pass) a color deficiency screening at your DODMERB physical?

Was the test at USCGA different somehow? I believe they use the PIP plates / Ishihara plates to do the initial screening, were you offered the chance to take (or did you take) the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) test?
 
Yes I took both. I apparently failed both. I'm still at the academy now on outprocessing. However, I'd like to move on and set my sights on USMA/USAFA which Ive been told grant waivers for mild color blindness which I have. I'm going to Rutgers University this fall and will be taking similar classes I took here. Im looking to join AFROTC or AROTC. I can pass the vivid test, which apparently is a go for USMA. Some advice to my chances of getting a non-pilot comissioning slot at USAFA would help settle my stomach now and give me hope. The site says they grant waivers, and other threads say you can get a non-pilot appt. Please someone tell me a waiver is possible for USAFA or if any were given this year. Thanks
 
Nobody here can or should say a waiver will be granted. Nobody knows your exact condition, but more importantly nobody sits on the waiver board!

Waivers when supply(ROTC Cadets) is low, and demand (AF) is high occur more frequently than when the supply is high and demand is low.

You have yet to understand how AFSC works for AFROTC. Yes, they have rated and non-rated slots. HOWEVER, AFROTC cadets that want rated meet boards before the non-rated board meets. If they are not picked up on the rated board, they live another day and compete on the non-rated board. In other words there are PPQ (Potentially Pilot Qual) that go non-rated, it is not reserved for those that are not PPQ.

Not to divert this thread, but you need to do some investigating regarding AFROTC. AFROTC is not like AROTC. Your concerns if granted a waiver arr completely moot until you graduate from SFT (rising jr yr in college), scholarship or not.


You need to understand that it is 4 yrs after graduation you will live that military life. 40/50/60 hrs a week, 365 days a yr. If you don't want to be in a tank, don't go Army. If you don't want to be in Maintenance for jets, don't go AF.

I don't think this is really now about DoDMERB issues, I think it is more about which branch will give you a better chance. Problem is 4 yrs AD does not equal happiness if you hate the branch.

I am a jersey girl, exit 9. Married an AF officer, 1st base I moved to was Holloman AFB, http://www.holloman.af.mil/ 2nd was Mt. Home, ID http://www.mountainhome.af.mil/ That was within the 1st yr of my marriage. Mt Home is the hub of Elmore County, 10K people, Boise is the closest city, 50 miles away!
It could have been worse, he could have been assigned to Minot, ND. In his 20 yrs ADAF, @ 7 yrs was at Goldsboro, NC. Goldsboro is the hub of Wayne County with 45K people. NJ you don't know when you leave a town because the next town is right there. Goldsboro you know you left it because all you have is stretches of road with nothing. Again, look at Holloman, Mt. Home, and Minot.

Same is true for the Army.

The only reason life was out the door great, was because Bullet loved being an AF officer.

You have to want to be in that branch, joining because they were the only branch to give you a waiver is just not enough!
 
TrumpetTennis, you might want to take a look at this it is a few years old but may provide some guidance.
http://aviationmedicine.com/resources/files/PDF/VFS_attachments_07/USAF%20Wavier%20Guide%20PDF.pdf

The AF is not as strict with regards to vision/color vision as the CG is. I would not assume that your condition is a disqualifier. It may or may not be. I believe the AF uses the PIP test and you do not have to get 14/14 to be qualified. I believe the CG requires perfect color vision.
 
I read over pages 126-127. It states that waivers are not granted and it is automatically disqualifying FOR PILOTS, but it says nothing about non-pilot slots. "“This document primarily provides guidance for waivers on trained flying class II and III personnel,
and where specifically stated applies to flying class I/IA applicants and other special duty personnel.
This waiver guide does not cover general military entrance, commissioning, or enlistment.”"
So does this not inhibit commissioning through either AFROTC/USAFA??

Further, are there separate pools, or is competition for USAF ROTC/USAFA commission more difficult for people who are not pilot qualified?
 
AFA will classify you as PPQ(Potentially Pilot Qual) or PQ (Pilot Qual).

AFROTC AFSC holds 2 boards, 1 for rated and 1 for non-rated, due to fact that you have a vision issue you would go to the non-rated board only. The reason they hold 2 boards is not only for medical issues, but also those that are not picked up for rated, than live another day and fight for a non-rated AFSC.
 
I don't know.

I mean this with kindness, but an SA education is not like AD. It is not 52 weeks a yr, 24/7, deployed at any given time for 5 yrs in your career field.

I think you are spending more time wanting to attend an SA without understanding you will spend more time AD.

Take a deep breath and research career fields. Notice the s after field. You are not ever guaranteed your 1st choice, you might want Intel, and get stuck with Public Affairs. To attend an SA because it is an SA is not the wisest decision.

Don't go down this path if you are not ready to take the bad (AFSC/assignment ---Minot ND) with the good (Qualified).

They own you for yrs. Attending an SA over another SA or ROTC is not smart IMPO just because they will commission you. Look deeper in this forum. AF/AROTC also waive when AFA and USMA didn't. AFROTC you are still on the hook AD no matter what, AROTC they have levels!

I know people think as an AFROTC Mom I am pushing ROTC. I am not! I am pushing the fact that AD life is not SA or collegiate life. Don't commit to any branch unless you are willing to do a yr in Iraq, Korea, Saudi Arabia, as a remote in a job you never thought you would be stuck with the Q is not worth it when they make you the PAO and you wanted Intel or SP.
 
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